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From feast to fit: Burn off the Thanksgiving calories with these activities

By Mariecar Mendoza, Los Angeles Daily News

Posted:
12/02/2013 06:09:04 PM MST

The average American can consume nearly 4,500 calories during Thanksgiving.

It's that time of year again when people stuff turkeys — and themselves — for the annual Thanksgiving feast with friends and family. The average American consumes more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat during a traditional holiday dinner, according to the Calorie Control Council. That figure leans higher if you wash down that hearty holiday meal with a glass of cider or wine (both roughly about 120 calories) or even a festive cup of eggnog (223 calories).

But don't fret. Sing a few carols with the family (20 minutes of singing can burn up to 45 calories if done standing up), laugh out loud while sharing jokes around the fireplace (10 to 15 minutes of laughing burns between 10 and 40 calories, according to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center) or a combination of the activities listed here and you won't have to worry about those holiday pounds come New Year's Eve.

Going to brave the chill and the long lines of Black Friday? You can burn up to 81 calories an hour standing quietly in line, according to Calorie Count, an online calorie counting database.

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GRAVY

(half-cup serving)

118 calories*

If you add gravy to those potatoes, all the shopping you do while at the store can burn more than 75 calories per hour (walking at a pace of 3.5 mph can burn up to 178 calories).

YAMS WITH MARSHMALLOWS

(half-cup serving)

240 calories

Hit the stairs at home or outdoors to burn up to 45 calories per flight (equal to about 10 steps).

CRANBERRY SAUCE

(half-cup serving)

209 calories*

Hiking is a great way to burn off calories while enjoying the great outdoors — a 3-mile hike can burn up to 600 calories.

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

(¾-cup serving)

161 calories (Source: Campbell's Kitchen)

Deck the halls and the Christmas tree to burn calories in a fun, festive way. For instance, carrying boxes full of holiday decorations, you can burn up to 311 calories, according to Harvard Health Publications. Unpacking those boxes can burn nearly 200 calories.

TRADITIONAL SOFT WHITE DINNER ROLL

(1 roll)

110 calories (Source: Pillsbury)

With 1 pat of butter

50 calories (Source: Land O Lakes)

Bowling is a fun way to flex those arm muscles and burn about 115 calories per hour.

PUMPKIN PIE

(1 slice)

323 calories*

Playing flag football in the yard or at the neighborhood park burns between 240-355 calories or more depending on how long you play.

* Calories are based off data from USDA. The amount of calories an individual burns varies depending on gender, weight and age.

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